Hey, I have taken two database courses, and I had a very good introduction to the concept of relational databases (IMHO).

I wanted to just remind all the people here how powerful a flat text file is for simple data storage. You are right, Jonathan for having asked those questions. Everything depends on what type of data ZZamboni wants to store, and how he needs to process it.

I will add my two cents to the thread by saying that for simple storage, there is nothing better than flat files. The flat files are growing up? So what??? Why aren't you updating the system so that it would use more than one unique file. Imagine you have 10,000 items to store. Well, why not having 10 files to store them? The first file for the first 1000 items, and so forth. Speedwise, I am telling you, you will end up with something a LOT faster than any other big DB package or wrapper like all the DBI stuff. Because those packages are, in fact, also using some big files I guess...
So... how complex is your data? How do you want to access it? Do you need any relational concepts? If the only concern you have is the speed, then my advice would be Keep the flat file system - Just improve it a little!.

In reply to The POWER of flat files by gaggio
in thread DBI vs MLDBM/GDBM_File, etc. by ZZamboni

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